Ship-fender.



P. KUHARCHEK.

SHIP FENDER.

.APPLICATION FILED IUIY I9. Ima.

Patented Mar, II, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Iff-

LCM,

P. K'UHAHCH'E SHIP FENDER. APPLICATION FILED Juv/19. 191s.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M IIL. ull/.40

rus mmm: Frsns ca. rmwourmx, wAsNmcraN, D. c.

PnoxoFY KUHARCHEK, or :Inn-OME, rENNsY'LvANrA.

SHIP-FENDER;

speciaeation of Lettersratent.' Y. Patented` Mar. 1.1,A 1919.

Application filed July 19, 1918. Serial No. 245,615.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PRoKoFY KUHARCHEK, a citizen of Russia, residing atJerome, county of Somerset, and State of Pennsyl- Vania, Improvements inShip-Fenders, of. which the following is a specication. V

This invention relates to improvements in ship fenders and particularlyto types adapted to defend the ship against the attack of torpedoes,mines and like undersea projectiles. n

The principal object of the invention 1s to provide a 'fenderV comprisedof resilient elements adapted to receive the impact or blow of aprojectile, whenin an operative position, soas to eifectually preventdamage being done to the hull of the ship.

A further object is to provide means whereby the fender may be raised orretracted when not in use so as not to impede the progress of the shipthrough the water.

A still further object is to provide a fender comprised of few andsimple parts, easily operated and readily applled.

These and other like objects are attained by the novel construction andcombination of parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanyingdrawings, forming a material part of this disclosure, and in which'Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view, showing a conventional type ofship and indicating the attachment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same.

Fig. V3 Vis a transverse vertical sectional view,`taken through aportion of the hull of the vessel and the `fender elementsl employed,and

F'g. 4 is a perspective fragmentary view showing a modified form of thefender elements.

Engaged with the hull of the ship 10, here conventionally represented,and possessing all of the necessary paraphernalia for propulsion andnavigation, are extending lugs 14, the same being arranged at spacedintervals in two horizontal rows around the hull and pivotally engagedin them are link bars 15, the same operating in the manner of a hingeand adapted to extend Vhorizontally outward when in an operativeposition, fromv the hull of the ship. l Y

These bars engage with similar lugs 16 carried by rigid rails 18,arranged in'rows,

have Vinvented certain new and useful i v'parallel' with the centralline of the ship and at a considerable distance therefrom, according tothe length ofthe connecting bars 15. Y

Extending between the pairs of rails 18 are a plurality ofV coiledsprings 1 9, the same being arranged in spaced vertical relation. alongthe entire length of the supporting rails 18.

Fixed upon the deck ofl the ship are Winches 20, operating drums 21, towhich are attached cables 22, the cables passing over pulleys 23,mounted upon the upper .l

ends of vertical posts 24, secured upon the` hull of the ship, thecables ultimately Vbeing connected, at their extreme outer ends,

Y with the upper rails 18 in such manner that when the drums arerotated, the cables will be wound thereon and the arms l5, together withthe springs 19, raised into the position shown in the broken lines inFig. 3, thus elevating the entirevstructure, which normally extendsdownward into the water in which the ship floats, to such an extent asto offer no impediment to the progress of the ship.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the same identical construction isused with the addition of vertical bars 30 pivoted on pins 31 to thebars 15, and extending between the vertical bars 30 are aplurality ofhorizontally disposed helical springs 32, thus forming a net work, theelements of which are n spaced Auniformly apart.

As a furtherl protection, a woven net 33 is suspended at its corners bythe pins 34 to the bars 1K5 so that should a torpedo or like projectilepass the springs 19 and 32, in addition to its being retarded thereby,it willbe prevented from close approach to the hull Vof the ship, due tothe net 33, this arrangement, like that previously described, beingreadily raised completely out of the water by actuating the Winchesl 20.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure -by Letters Patent, is.

In a ship fender, the combination with the Y being eorinected with theuppermost'of said' otallyseoured between said link bars, other coiledsprings arranged horizontally and' e'ngaged at their en ds with saidvertical bars,

and a meshed` net pivotall'y engaged with saidV linkbars, allxof sa-i'dbars, Vsprings and'nets being' raisedl upon the operation of'said 10rWinches, allv substantially shown and de-V Y scribed. f Y VIn testimonywhereof I have Yaixed my Y* signature.

Y PRoKoFY KUHARCHEK Copies of' this patent may be obtained forY fivecents each, by addressing they Commissioner of Patents, Y Washington, D.C. Y.

